Summer's finally here and there are few things more enjoyable than cruising around in a classic American convertible.
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The 1963 Buick Skylark presented here, VIN *3J2505448*, certainly qualifies as a stylish, fun, affordable drop-top collectible. Better yet, this Classic is exceptional in more than one way.
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Sold new at Butt's Buick on Chapala Street in sunny Santa Barbara, California, the car has had only two owners in 45 years. It has always been garaged and looks to be well-maintained. Just recently, its Dual Path Turbine Drive automatic transmission was rebuilt.
Most appropriately for a California native, the Buick still proudly displays its original-issue, black-and-yellow, 1963 California license plates, highly prized among aficionados, as they are still irreplaceable.
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Manufactured between 1961 and 1963, the Skylark was related to the Oldsmobile F-85 and the Pontiac Tempest. Buick's claim to fame was its amazingly light and powerful, all-aluminum 3.5-liter V-8 engine. After the 1963 model year, the tooling for this mechanical marvel was sold to the English Rover group, where it served faithful duty for three decades in many different applications, such as the Range Rover and the Morgan V8, just to name a few.
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Spotlessly clean engine bay--just check out the immaculate, factory original paint on the inner fenders!--offers plenty of room for the compact alloy engine. At 4,800 rpm, this 215 cubic incher with its four-barrel carb produces 200 honest horsepower, ensuring very lively performance, indeed.
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A quick look underneath confirms: there are no oil leaks; nor are there any dents in the frame rails!
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Sporting its original red color, the Skylark has been repainted over a completely rust free body once, many years ago. The finish is still very glossy and smooth, with just a few touched-up dings and other smallish blems, nothing to lose sleep over. There are no bubbles anywhere; this is a 100% dry California survivor. All the brightwork is very straight; the rear bumper chrome has flaked off a bit near the lower mounting holes, which is very hard to see. Overall, a very impressive "oldie!"
Note the correct Skylark 13-inch wheels and hub caps. Whitewall tires are near new MASTERCRAFT 185/80-R13 radials on all 4 corners.
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We splurged a bit and had Gold Coast Upholstery, our local expert, install a brand new, correct, white pinpoint vinyl convertible top. At 10 hours of labor (plus the new top and top pads), this was quite expensive, but well worth the effort!
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Turning a knob automatically lowers the top all the way, to be covered with a brand new, white tonneau (top boot). What a fine looking Buick this is!
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Inside, the good vibes continue. The Skylark, though of compact overall dimensions (it's 193 inches/4.90 meters long), offers plenty of room for 5 adult passengers and their luggage.
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Finely preserved, original door panels.
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Futuristic dash design and large, black steering wheel with big chrome horn push, hallmarks of American cars of the era.
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Uncracked dash is in pristine condition throughout. Except for the original Buick-branded DELCO AM radio, all lights, gauges, and switches work, even the heater blower motor.
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The white Morrokide upholstery is in excellent condition, completely free of any rips or tears; black carpeting looks brand new.
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Ready for a relaxed evening at the Drive-In!
Note working interior lights.
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Before we take off on a test drive, let's have a closer look at two very important areas: trunk and undercarriage.
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Inside of trunklid still carries the correct tar sound deadening, all which which has survived 45 years unharmed.
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Humongous trunk looks toothbrush-clean. There's not a speck of rust or scale to be found. Spare and jack are equally clean.
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Also included in this sale is a carboard box full of small parts for this car. Just like Christmas!
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Amazingly, the Skylark still features all original factory paint underneath. It has never been undercoated, has never needed any rust repair or panel replacement; with a little bit of elbow grease, you could polish its underside to a mellow shine and hit the show circuit with it. Even for a pampered California Car, this is an incredible treat!
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Saturday, June 21st, was another perfect day in paradise, ideally suited for a little cruise in the Skylark. So close to the Pacific Ocean, a nice breeze offered respite from the dry heat. The Buick starts immediately, idles smoothly, and accelerates with authority.
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Automatic transmission, power steering, and very good tires and brakes all contribute to make driving this mid-size American a fun experience. The car's thirst for fuel is very moderate, we're happy to report.
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Returning home, we wonder why the corporate big wigs ever deemed it necessary to change the Skylark concept. You'd be hard pressed to find a car that delivers more smiles per mile than this Buick. It's smooth, quiet, without any ill manners, qualifies for cheap collector car insurance, can be used as a toy or reliable daily driver, and, unlike the plastic cars of the 2008 model year, it will not depreciate in value, ever.
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If you have been lusting after an American convertible from the 1960s, but want to be different from the belly-button crowd, here is a golden opportunity to acquire a bona fide second generation Buick Skylark. Hardly any rust free examples are left; here's one of the handful of known survivors. As such, it will always be a desirable car.
Addendum:
We sold this Buick Skylark in July 2008 to a classic car dealer in France.